Gas burner heating system and apparatus therefor



April l0, 1945. E. ci. MILLER 2,373,325

` GAS BURNER HEATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS THEREFOR v original Filed March 1, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR. Erl/Via@ C .Milll April l0, 1945. E. c. MILLER 2,373,326v

A GASVZBURNER HEATING SYSTEM AND ARPARATS THEREFOR Original Filed March 1,` 1941l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i' #ki ATTORNEY.

GAS BURNER HEATING SYSTEM APPARATUS 'mEaEFoa Efwin c. Miner,

a corporationlof Ohio original application March 1,1941, sei-m1 No. 381,335. Divided and this application September 24, 1943seria1No. 503,725

I 2 Claims. (01.158.115)

'The' present invention relates to gas burner heating systems and apparatus therefor, and more particularly relates to protective apparatus for that typev of said systems wherein both the located in -a combustion burners thereof arel :chamber which is maintained under sub-atmospherlc pressure. v

Such a system andthe y'apparatus thereof is describedin my co-pending application Serial No. 381,335, filed March 1, 1941, now matured .into- Patent No. 2,369,746, dated February 20, 1945, of

which the present case isdivisional.

An object of the present invention is t6 provide improved protective apparatusfor a gas burner heating system of the general class set forth in my said co-pending application.

Another object of my'invention is to provide l vimproved means operativeto maintain the constant 'or pilot burner of such a system operative, under conditions wherein a vacuum pump for unit or from some remote point through a suitmaintaining a ow of air to said constant burner fails so to do. The foregoing' and other objects of the invenparatus, and a preferred embodiment of vention. operating therein.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the heating system, and a preferred embodiment of my invention, shown as incorporated therein;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the gas burning v heater apparatus of Fig. 1 and shows an automatic combustion products' escape valve of said embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the fuel supply tube for the main and constant burnf ers, Vand showing an automatic air supply valve for said embodiment.

The diagrammatic Fig. 1, and the other figures, togetherlaftord a proper disclosure of the system and apparatus of my said co-pending application, for a proper understanding of theapparatus of the invention reference is to be closure of said apparatuaand system.

As shown in' the drawings, the invention \is applicable to a gas burning device comprising generally, in combinatiolha .heat transfer ra 2li; a combustion chammixing device It; and a fuel diatori; a suction'fan ber 30;' an air-gas flow control system as' will Abe described in detail hereinafter.

sought'to be covered herein, butA had to the said application or vpatent issuing therefrom, for a more specific distion will be better understood by reference to the following drawings and specifications, generally illustrating andl explainingthe system and aplead into the conduit i5 Awhich leads into the inside wall portionl of the combustion chamber casy Rome, N. Y., assignmto The Union Fork &Hoe Company, Columbus, Ohio,

into a discharge conduit. Ari air-gas fuel mixture is induced to flow into the combustion chamber through an automatic valve mixing device which delivers the fuel to a burner head 35 located in the lower portion of the combustion chamber by the action of the Suction fan; the y air for the mixture being talren either from the atmosphere in the neighborhood of the heating able inlet conduit 4|. The partial vacuum created within the combustion chamber by the ac 1 tion of the f an 2li also operatesto induce iiowfof an appropriate proportion of gas into the burner head to be mixed with'tho air therein; and the gaseous products of the combustion process then flow through theradiator I0 and the conduit I5 and thence through the fan 20 to be discharged vthereby through a suitable discharge conduit (not shown).

In Eig. l the radiator l0 is shown as the well known sectional type; `but it will be understood that the invention is adapted to use in connection with any other suitable form of hot gas conveying heat exchange device. Ports Il in lower Wall portions of the radiatorsections take opening of the fan 20. The combusti-onchamber 30 comprises essentially a box-like' casing 3i' located centrally of and in the upper portion of the radiator unit; and intercommunicat'- .ing conduits are provided between the interiors of vthe radiator sections and the combustion chamber. A door 33 is hingedly mounted upon a ing to provide access into the interior thereof whenever necessary.

- 'Ihe burner head 35 may be of any Suitable type and is. illustrated as comprising .a flaring tube 3B with anend closure plate 31 in whicliare provided a plurality of jet openings 38 lto provide Ievenly distributed flow of'fuel over the area of the upperendof a fueltube the'burner head. Thelower/ end of the burner:-

head is connectedin open communication with through the lower wall portion of the combustion` chamber casing 3i and into communication with the interior of the air-gas mixing device casing 4I by means of an elbow 45, for transmission of fuel 'therefrom to theburner head.

The air inlet control device 'of the invention includes a valve 50 disposed within the casing 4 4 and aizlapted to Seat upon a partial partition wall i portion 54 of the valvecasing 44 to regulate ow The combustion chamber and the radiator and the 4suctionfan elements are interconnectewto provide for movement of the gaseous products-'-l v of combustion from the` combustion chamber the radiator and thence through the fan of air through the casing from an air inlet conduit 4l to the fuel tube 39. The Avalve-5l! is mounted upon a valve stem 52 which is slidably' mounted upon the casingy by means vofl suit-i4 able sndebeanngssi' and n gr-1an. Ahum Y .pressure responsive diaphragm 62- is mountedwithin acasing 6 4 which also encompasses the being of I 39 vwhich extends 68 (Fig. 1')` which leads from a vacuum valve chamber 69 which in turn is in open communication with a conduit leading into the interioi` of the combustion chamber 30, and preferably terminating within the flaring tube 36. I

when the valves 82 and 50 are seated there is a substantial gap as at 88 between the twokvalve stem members. Thus, when'tl'ie valve stem52 `is rst raised by the diaphragm 62 to lift the valve 50 from its seat the valve 82 remains Ain `gas sealing relationlupon its seat.-` Howeverjas the stem 52 is lifted further, pressure closes the gap between the two valve stem members and the stem The casing 64y above the diaphragmfis otherwise closed by the cup shaped sealing element 200 surrounding the valve stem 22 whereby no effective communication of air, from the space of the casing 44 with the space disposed above the diaphragm B2 and in the casing 6I, is had.-Y

Therefore, the uid pressure exerted upon the upper side of the diaphragm 62 is always substantially that determined by the vfluid pressure communicated thereto through said conduit 10.

A vacuum control valve yI2 is ldisposed within the vacuum chamber 89 and is adapted to seat upon a partial intermediate partition wall N thereof. The valve 12 is mounted upon a valve stem 18 which extends into' the interior of a solenoid winding 18 and is adapted to function as the armature' thereof. The solenoid 78 is so arranged as to be adapted to draw the arn'nitureV stem 1E upwardly under closed circuit conditions so as to unseat the valve 12, thus permitting iiow of airthrough the conduit tube 7|! into the combustion vchamber under the suction o! the fan, and a partial vacuum condition will then be obtained within the portion of the casing that is above the diaphragm 62. Consequently, the air V8|lsubsequently raises to open the valve 82 whereupon. gas from the conduit 42 iiows into 'the valve casing lltv and thence into the fuel tube 39, mixing with the air beingV admitted thereinto as hereinabove explained,

The operation of the device is automatically controlled by means of a thermostat device it@ `which may be of any suitable room temperature control type electrically connected into the circuit under atmospheric pressure admitted through the aperture 66 of the diaphragm casing will exert pressure against the bottom surface oi the diaphragm E2 that will overcome the pressure against the top side thereof with the result that the diaphragm will move upwardly and the plate Bil will press against the valve stem 52 to raise the latter vertically so that the valve 5a will be unseated and air will be admitted from the conduit 4l through the valve casing and into the fuel tube 39. Whenever the solenoid 'le is deenergized, however, the force of gravity operates to cause the valve lll to lower upon its seat thus cutting oil the vacuumy above the diaphragm 63.

A small aperture 1| is formed through a wall` portion of the casing of the chamber 69 so as to permit a slight bleeding of air at -this time into the vacuum chamber and above the diaphragm 62 so that the atmospheric pressures at opposite sides thereof become equalized upon closing of valve 1.2. Consequently. the diaphragm plate 8,6 lowers under the force of'gravity to permit the valve stem 52 to return to valve closing position. In this respect, particular attention is called to the fact that because of the valve stem arrangement of the invention the gas control valve 82 will close prior to the closing o! the air control vvalve 50, and that this mode oi' operation provides advantages as will be explained in detail hereinafter.

A second "alve stem '80 mounting a gas inlet control valve 82 is disposed in vertical alignment with and above the valve stem 52. The

valve 82 is disposed within a gas inlet chamber controlling the solenoid it. Thus, as long as the temperature of the atmosphere adjacent the thermostat l0@ islower than that called for by the adjustment. of the thermostat under any given condition, the operating elements of theA thermostat will remain in circuit-closed condition and the solenoid I8 will maintain the valve 12 above its seat, thus allowing the diaphragm 62 to maintain the valves 5t and B2 in openposition forfuel delivery purposes. Upon attainment of the desired temperature of the atmosphere surrounding the thermostat |00 the actuating elements thereoi will move into circuit opening position and the solenoid la will be cle-energized thus allowing the valve 72.150 move downwardly to closed position, whereupon the diaphragm 62 will withdraw from contact with the valve stem 52 and allow the valves 32 and Sil to assume closed positions. thus cutting oif the supply of fuel and air tothe burner` head. As explained hereinabove, during the movements of the valve members 82 and 5t toward closed positions the valve 82 will 40 reach its seat some time prior to the closing of the valve 5t. Thus, upon terminationof the ow ofgas into the fuel tube 39 there will be a further flow of air thereinto to scavange the burner-head of any unburnt gas that might otherwise remain therein. By reason of this feature of the invention it will be understood that the danger of accumulation of unburnt gas in the working parts will be eliminated. y

'Upon movement of the actuating elements of the thermostat |00 to circuit closing position the solenoidvi will be energized and the valves 5D and 82 will be caused to open in the order named, as'explained hereinabove. Thus, a supply of air will iirst be introduced into the burner head and combustion chamber, and then a iiow of gas will befadded thereto. As alresult of this mode of gas introduction the danger of gas explosions during the ignition period is avoided.

A constant burner tube |0 is. provided in con- Junction with the apparatus and so arranged as to have-its outlet end adjacent the burnerv head 3l and its intake endin open communication with a gas inlet tube H2, and with an air inlet tube pressure in the .gas supply conduit IIS is automatically regulated by means `of a suitable pressure regulator I Il so thatthe gas delivered therefrom into the primary gas conduit 42 and into the Y constant burner conduit ||2 is of constant pressure. An adjustable needle valve |28 is provided in the line of the conduit I2, and a similar valve |22 is provided in the line ofthe conduit 42, for valves 50 and 32, whereupon iiow of fuel through independent adjustment of the now of gas therethe main burner tube will commence. 'As it through. Thus, it will be understood that the emerges from the burner it ignites from the flame y -constant burner Atube I is normaliyprovided of the constantburner tube.

witha constant supply of mixed air andgas, and` l When'the atmosphere adjacent the thermostat therefore a pilot light will remain burningat the device |00 'reaches the desired temperature the burner head 35 -to provide ignition of the main circuit to the solenoid 18'is opened, thus allowing fuel^supp1y passing therethrough upon re-starting the valve stem 10 to move downwardly to -seat I operations of the thermostat control device. thevalve 12. Gonsequently,.the pressures at op- As illustrated in Fig.` l, the outlet end of the posite sides of the diaphragm 62 becomeequalized constant burnerl tube ||0 is/disposedwithin the and the plate 00 withdraws from the valve stem burner head 35 and centrally thereof. kIn trans- 52 allowing iirst the gas valve 32 to close and subverse section the constant burner discharge end sequently the air valve 50 to close, whereupon is provided with a laterally directed extension I f only the constant burner remains in operation for (Fig. l) so as to discharge the constant burner repetition of the process as may be required by i fuel against a substantially centrally located porthe thermostat device.

tion of thelburner head plate,.31. Thus, upon As a further safety feature of theinve'ntionya starting of the main fuel burning operation the A thermostat device '|40 is "mounted upon the fuel fuel stream risingthrough the fuel tube 39 will tube, 33. The thermostat |40 comprises essen o substantially envelop the -ame of the constant tially a bent bimetallic element |42 (Fig. 1) exburner, and thus an improved form of fuel ignitending into the interior of the fuel tube 39. The tion willlbe obtained. i end portions of the element' |42 normally con;

f A safety control valve |30 is connected in the tact electrical connection devices |44 to close the line of the main gas supply conduit;I |6 and is arcircuit to the solenoid operated valve 12.- Upon ranged to be actuated in response to operation of flashback of ameinto the interior of -the f uel a thermocouple |32 (Fig. .2) disposed within the tube 30 the bi-metallic element is heated and de combustion chamber and adjacent theV confleets to break the .circuit to the solenoid resultstant burner flame. 'Ihe ther ocoupledevice is ing in the closing of the main air-gas-valves teroperatively associatedl with the moving parts of minating the iiow ofA fuel through the tube 39.-

' the valve |30 by means `of interconne'cting'wirin'g 3'0 Subsequently, the bi-metallic element slowly cools 34 `and is so arranged that as long as the conand returns to normal condition wherein the constant burneris in operation the thermocouple tact is engaged and normal operationresumed.` device maintains the Asafety valve |30 in op'en conf As illustrated in Fig. 3 the discharge end of the dition'. However, upon cessationV of the constant gas inlet tube ||2 is mounted within the lower end' burner operation, as upon failure of the gas sup- "35of the .constantburner tube ||0 in the form of a ply, the thermocouple operates to actuate the L:iet tube |02 extending a substantial distance insafety valve to 'closed conditionfthus eliminating to the interior of the tube ||0 and having a re- .the danger of having'the combustion chamber 4ducedoriilce |30 in the end thereof. The airfin;

' subsequently filled with unburnt gas upon relet tube ||4 is tapped into the constant burner sumption of the gas supply and in the absence of .40 tube |0 at la position' adjacent theJ tube |62. igniting means. A manually operable :valve Thus, under normal operating: conditions, the opening button |36 is provided in lconjunction partial vacuum in the burner tube ||0 draws air with the valve |30 to permit manual re-opening through tube ||4 tobe mixed -with the gas issuing ofthe gas supply-circuit preparatory to restart`y through the orifice |30 for pilot burner operation.

ing the device subsequent to complete interruption The rate of air now through the tube lll'is arf of the service. ranged to be adjusted by means of a set screw |64 To operate the apparatus of the invention, it (Fig- 1), the inner end 0f Wheh iS- adaDiedO be will first be started by closing the power switch moved into and out of engagement with the inlet. |20 to the fan 20, thus creating a partial vacuum end 0f the tube |l4 to controlthe flow of air4 throughout the combustion chamberfradiator thereinto. However, under interrupted electric z system. The thermostat |00 is then setto the power conditions the partial vacuum in the tube desired temperature. and the maink supply gas ||0 is no longer available for drawing the revalve ||1 is opened. AThe combustion chamber v quired amountof air through'the tube -||4 topfodoor 33 is then opened, and this 'destroys the par- -vide a blue ame at the constant burner head, and tialyvacuum in the combustion chamber whereto meet this condition I provide an auxiliary air upon the main gas .and air inlet control valvesz inlet port |10 adjacent the iet |60. The'auxiliary, and assume closed positions. The button |38..l air port |10 is normally closed by means o f a of the safety control valve |30 is then manipucover disc |12 adapted'to functionin the manner, lated to permit a slight figw of ygastherethrough of a check valve underthe action of suction withinto the-constant burner tube I0 where it mixes 60 in the tube H0. but under fan-Off conditions when with a flow of air entering from the`air inlet con. auction' in the burner head 'is absent the disc |12 duit 4|. A burning taper is then applied to4 the is. adapted tofall away from the port |10 nnder burner head to ignite the fuel stream, and the the force of gravity. l button |36 is manually maintainedinvalve open- Consequently. the 110W'v of eas through the ing position until such time as the heat of the fuel orifice |60 of the Jet |62 will now operate in the burning operation 4causes the elements of the manner of an inspirator to induce a flow of air thermocouple |32 to maintain the valve |30 in through the inlet port' |10 so that a proper mix'- openposition without assistance. x ture of gas and air will be obtained whereby a The combustion chamber door is then closed, blue flame burning operation is obtained under and if the adjustment to the thermostat |00 calls 70 all conditions of pilot burner operation. y f for an increase inthe temperature ofthe atmos- ,i The pressure regulator device having the cas- Y`Vpliere"thereabout the circuit'controlling the sole- 'ing- |80 is of special form as illustrated in Fig. i noni 10 is closed andthe va1ve12 will be lifted and is showntherein asy `comprising generally a `from its seat and thus in turn cause the diahollow casing |00 enclosing a. iiexible diaphragmy phragm 62 to open successively the air and gas?, 75 |32. The gas conduit '|10 opens' into the casing vented as at |84 so as to permit gradual bleeding of air from the outside atmosphere into and out of the casing above the diaphragm |82. The diaphragm |82 carries a center plate |88 upon which is mounted a valve stem |88 which in turn carries at its lower end a gas ilow control valve |80 adapted to coact with a valve seat in the casing to control iiow of, gas from the main inlet conduit |3| into the conduit ||6. Thus, the suction created by the fan is transmitted through the apparatus by means of the conduit IIB into the casing |80 below the diaphragm and normally pulls the diaphragm downwardly to maintain the valve |80 in open position. However, whenever the pressure in the gas conduit |3| raises or lowers from the desired standard the effect thereof is immediately transmitted to the diaphragm |82 which accordingly either raises or lowers to partally close or further open the valve |90, whereby the rate of flow of gas into the conduit ||6 is kept uniform at all times.

As illustrated in Fig. l, an automatic vent device |95 is provided in an upper wail portion of the casing 3| and is so arranged that the disc member thereof falls forwardly to vent-open position upon stoppage of the fan 20, as under power failure conditions. Consequently, the products of combustion from the constant burner are free to escape through the vent |95 and do not accumulate in the combustion charn- 'ber to snuil' out the constant burner. Upon current resumption the suction of the fan reseats the vent disc and the products of combustion are then drawn through the radiator and expelled as explained hereinabove.

Attention is canes to the fact that the gas- 'air inlet arrangement of the invention is of such form that whenever the thermostat control device is at oif" position the valves and 82 are bothk closed. Consequently, although the suction fan is continuously in operation, there will be no flow of cold air through the combustion chamber and radiator Vunit under burneroii conditions such as would otherwise cool of! the combustion chamber and radiator between each burning stage of operation. Consequently the heat previously stored in the combustion chamber and radiator structures is not wasted as would otherwise be the case by absorption `vthereof into the cold lair stream passing through the combustion chamber and radiator structures and being discharged by the suction. Attention is also called to the fact that under burner "01T" conditions the operation of the constant burner device is carried on under ideal conditions and without introduction of excessive amounts of air into the system. Consequently, the velocity of movement of air-gas mixtures through the system under such conditions 'is relatively slow, and the heat generated' by the constant burner operation is fully utilized and transferred to the radiator heat exchange portions and thus usefully employed.

` Although only one form of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatthe invention is not so limited but .that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

, 2,373,326 Isn Ibelow the diaphragm' m, and the casing it I claim:

1. In a gas burning heating device, a combustion chamber, a. suction fan operatively associated with said combustion chamber for Withdrawing the products of combustion therefrom, a constant burner/device disposed within said combustion chamber, a gaseous fuel inlet tube operatively associated with said burner device, a gas jet projecting into the interior of said tube for introducing a regulated flow of gas thereinto, an air inlet conduit leading into said tube at a position adjacent said gas jet and adapted to normally provide a supply of air sulcient for complete combustion of the gas from the jet in response to the action of said suction fan, a second air inlet conduit disposed adjacent said gas jet, a check valve device controlling the introduction of air into said second conduit under suction fan oi conditions, said check valve device being normally maintained in closed position in response to the action of suction thereon but adapted to automatically open in response to force of gravity under suction fan off conditions to allow ingress of air into saidconduit under the inspirating action of said gas jet, whereby an adequate supply of air for complete burner is continuously maintained.

2. A` gas heating apparatus, comprising a radiator, a combustion chamber therefor, a main anda constant pilot burner for said chamber, a, suction device operable to withdraw the gaseous products of combustion from said radiator and chamber, an air and gas mixing fuel supply device for said main burner, said device comprising means responsive to a predetermined degree of lowered fluid pressure in said chamber, to control the flow of gaseous fuel from said device to said main burner, a pressure regulator in the gas supply line leading to said device, a means for supplying regulated gas from the discharge side of said regulator to said constant burner, said means comprising a rst conduit' section, a mixing compartment, and a second conduit section, all of which are serially related, said rst section leading from said vregulator terminating in said compartment in a jet nozzle vdirected towards the fuel inlet end of said second section, a pair of air-supply ports being provided in the Wall of said compartment in the region of said jet, a check valve device at one of said ports biased towards port-opening position being maintained in portclosing position during effective operation of said suction device and responsive to the resultant sub-atmospheric pressure then prevailing in said combustion chamber and communicated to said compartment through said second conduit'section,

said other port adapted to constantly communi-` cate a relatively more restricted supply of air' to the interior of said compartment than supplied by said valved port during such conditions, whereby upon cessation of such sub-atmospheric pressure the valved port will be opened for the admission of atmospheric air which will be drawn to said pilot burner through said second conduit section under the inspirating eilect of the stream of sas passing from said iet. v

ERWIN C. MILLER. v 

